Valve



June 26, 1962 s. A. Box-:TTCHER ETAL VALVE Filed June 22, 1959 5 #Wwe JJ fwd @wwf wwmww@ m 0 P w A f@ \i. I- @d M @y 0 E M m Z JMB a @y @wwwa/i f@ a5 Op 4 lijm/QW, d

Unite tates atent f@ and Jack C. Page, Pala- Corporation, Skokie, Ill.,

`Our present invention relates, in general, to valves, and particularly to shut-olf valves for controlling the ow of uids through pipe lines, and the like.

Valves, as employed for hot and cold water faucets, sill cocks, and like installations generally embody removable seat washers and are particularly weak in their ability -to effectively stop the ow of liquids with repeated operation over an extended period of time. The familiar problem of repairing leaky faucets by replacing bib washers is well known, particularly to the home owner.

The present invention is generallydirected to improvements in such faucet valves and is concerned especially with an improved valve arrangement in which ceramic or non-corrosive metals are employed to eiect improved life and wearability. Certain of our improvements concernA a valve system in which a valve body is closed with and by iluid pressure, while being opened in response to the positive action of an operating stem means that applies lifting force to the low pressure side of a valve disc body.

Since vprevious valve systems employing ceramic valve seats and bodies have been particularly vexed by the problem of pointed or concentrated loading of the ceramic members, such leading to the untimely destruction of the ceramic, the arrangement and construction employed in the present invention seeks studiously to avoid such problem during both opening and closing operations of the valve. In this respect, opening or unseating forces applied to the valve body are workable between limits beyond which the valve body is freely movable. This avoids overloading of the valve body on opening. Conversely, closing movement of the valve body is substantially independent of the means employed for opening almost entirely on fluid pressure. valve of this invention includes a threaded operating stem movable between limits through an annular valve seat member to engage a valve disc or body member. Such valve disc member is preferably piloted centrally of an annular seat member to open against a guiding spring means and the pressure of uid controlled by the valve.

the same and depends In brief, the improved Opening movement of the operating means fails to reach l the limit of the movement permitted for the valve body, thereby concentrated loading of the latter member by opening activity of the yoperating means is avoided. The valve closes upon reverse movement of the operating means and under the influence of the pressurized uid; there being no positive mechanical or other means requiring the closing activity of the body member other than the pressure of the tluid involved.

The main object of this invention is to provide a new and improved valve means for controlling the flow of fluid.

A further object of this invention is lto provide a new and improved valve means, as aforesaid, which is so constructed and arranged as to avoid application of concentrated loads on a movable valve body.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved valve means employing valve seat and body means of a hard vitreous material in which the valve means is lifted by force applied to its low pressure side and closed under and with the fluid pressure applied to the high pressure side thereof.

A still additional object of this invention is to provide a new and improved valve assembly for particular `use in controlling the flow of liquids'which is economical to manufacture, simple to operate, and demonstrates improved operating wearability and lif The above and further objects, features, and advantages of this invention will be recognized by those familiar with the art from the following detailed Idescription of `a preferred embodiment of our invention, as such appears in the appended drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGUREl is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the longitudinal center `line of a typical sink faucet in which the improved valve assembly of this invention may be employed as illustrated, such view having pa-rts thereof in side elevation.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view, with parts thereof shown in full side elevation of an improved valve assembly, according to this invention; such demonstrating the operating elements as they appear with the valve in an open operating position;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG- URE 2, demonstrating the improved valve of this invention in a closed operating condition; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially at line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon.

Turning now to the features of the invention as shown in the embodiment of the drawings, it will be appreciated that FIGURE 1 demonstrates a typical faucet assembly 10, including a cast metal housing 11, a spigot 12, and an internal valve assembly or unit 15, according to this invention.

Assembly 15 includes an operating stem 16 threadingly movable through a stuing box and closure cap 17 engaging external threads 18 at Ithe upper end of the hou-sing 11. -A manually engageable handle means 20 .is fitted over fluted lands and grooves 21 at the outer end of the operating stem 16 and is held thereto by screw means 22 in a recognized manner.

. 4Housing 11 is suitably secured to an under-supporting platform 23, such asa countertop, porcelain sink, or the like, by a nut member 24 threadingly engaged with housing 11 and compressing a seal washer 25 against the support 23, all in a well recognized manner. v

` The housing 11 is, as stated, hollowed to receive the valve assembly 15 and forsuch purpose denes an internal valve chamber l30 which communicates at one end with a discharge passageway 31 of the spigot 12. The other end of chamber 30 joins an inlet passageway 32 defined by an inlet portion 33 adapted for connection with a supply pipeline, o-r the like.

As will be recognized from FIGURE 1, in particular, with valve assembly 15 located properly in chamber 30, the lower end thereof tightly seats `against an internal rannular shoulder portion 35 provided in the valve housing vsubstantially at the junction between chambers 30and inlet 32. `In this respect, the valve assembly 15 is of a suitable diameter and length, so that tightening of `the closure cap 17 effectively seats the same against shoulder 35 to prevent the ilow or passage of iiuid therebetween (see FIGURE 2).

Turning now to the particulars of the improved valve assembly 15 of this invention, reference is made to FIG- URES 2, r3, and 4 of the drawings. Assembly 15 includes the valve operating stem 16 which bears a conventional operatingthread portion 40 adjacent a cylindrical body An elongated stern portion 42 of reduced diameter extends axially Ibeyond the thread portion 40 and |includes a pointed lower end 43.

The threaded portion 40 engages mating threads 45 formed in a central axial bore 46 of an operating body 47, which is preferably formed of brass, stainless steel, or like non-corrosive materials. The operating body 47 Patented June 26, 1,962

tits snugly within a cartridge sleeve 50 which is open at its upper end and suitably spun over at 48 to hold body 47 in place. Sleeve 50 also includes a plurality of dischargerports or openings 52 `in its side walls which com'- municate directly with an annular passageway 53 formed in operating body 47. Additional passageways 54 in the body 47 communicate between the annular passageway 53 and the central axialfbore 46 (see yFIGURE 4).

YAn upper end wall 55 of thegbody member 47 acts as .a stop barrier to limit inward axial movement of the stemmem-ber 16 by engaging a shoulder .formed at the lower end of stem pontion 41. The operating body47 is alsoprovided with anannular recess 56 below the discharge ports 53,V 54V to accomodate anl annular Q-ring 57 which engages Ythe internalV side walls of the sleeve member 50 andprovides a seal therewith. i

Sleeve member 50 is suitablyyindented at a point intermediate its ends to present an annular shoulder 58 in support of the lower end of the operating body 47 and to* provide an inlet chamber section 59 ydelinitive of a substantially cylindrical cham-ber 66 beneath body 47. Inlet ports or openings 62 enter a. bottom wall 63 of the casing 50 and particularly communicate with the chamber 60 for the passage of fluid from `the supply inlet chamber 32. Bottom wall 63 is further distinguished by a central depressed area 64 definitive of a substantially cylindrical cup which acts as a pilot receptacle for the lower end of a compression vcoil spring 65 mounted within chamber 60 and adapted to receive, within lts-upper end, a centrally disposed depending neck extension 67 of Va movable valve' disc 68. y Y j Valve disc 68' may constitute stainless steel, brass, or preferably a suitable ceramic or vitreous materialV of recognized characteristics and properties suitable for thisY purpose. YFor example, various ceramic materials `having a high degree of wearability, hardness, and resistance to corrosion are available commercially. Typical of these are the high alumina compositions which demonstrate high'm'echanical strength and shock resistance. In any event, such valve disc is distinguished by a conical depression 69' formed centrally of its upper face for reception of v the .pointed pilot end 43 ofthe operating stem 16.Y

' The movable valve disc 68 cooperates with a substan- -tially annular valve seat 75'press tted into the lower endV of the central axial bore 46 in the operating body 47; such also preferably constituting a stainless, steel, ceramic, or

other vitreous materials;V Desirably, the material selected for valve seat 75,V either metal or ceramic, is somewhat softer than that used -for the valve disc 68, so that any errosion or wear between the two members Iwill result in rst wearing away the outer annular end of the valve seat 75, instead of forming a groove in -the seating face Vof the valve disc 68, which would likely cause the valve to leak. In order to form proper sealing engagement between the valve seat 7Sl and the seating face of the valve disc 68,v the opposing faces of such 'two members are finely lapped.

' With particular regard to FIGURE 3 of the drawings,

whereby the valve disc 68 is unseated and moved away from the valve seat '75 against the pressure of iluid within the chamber 69. When this limit position is achieved, the valve is fully opened and the valve disk 68 is held between the stem end 43 and the spring 65. It is also to be noted that the extending neck portion 67 of the movable valve member 68 is held in the open upper end of the spring means 65 and is thereby guided with the spring means substantially coaxially of chamber 60. The force of spring 65 is intentionally maintained at a value suicient only to retain the unseated valve disc 68 in engagement with the lower pointed end 43 of the operating stem 42. and is not used as a seating force for closing the valve.

l-t will be recognized, therefore, that the improved valve assemblyl of this invention includes a valve preferably having a ceramic-to-ceramic shut-off sealing in which a movable member is manually unseated against the force of pressurized fluid, therliow of which is controlled by: the valve. Conversely, such movable valve member 68 seats with the fluid pressure. So long as the intermating faces of the Ytwo members 68 and 75 are kept free of foreign material, suchfaces willproduce a good seal of a remarkable life span for valve assembly 10.A It is also to benoted that, asv the valve disk 68 approaches the seat 75, the decreased spacing between such two members.

serves to effectively throttle the flow of pressurized liquid Yinto bore 46, increasing the velocity-in uid iiow between the two ceramic members to effectively clean their interfacial areas and maintain the valve seat free of foreign material. Y

From the foregoing, it is believed that those familiar with the art will recognize Yand appreciate the improvements which mark the present invention as an advancement over prior art valves of this general category. Further, it will be appreciated that while we have. herein shown and described the features and aspects of ourv invention as it appears in conjunction with a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and hereinabove described, nevertheless numerous changes', modifications,

and substitutions of equivalents may be 4made thereinV without' necessarily departing from lthe spirit and scope of our invention. Consequently, it is intended that we be limited in the scope of our invention only as apit will be understood that when stem 16 is v backed off suiiciently by reverse threading action, the movable valve` disc 68 seats, with the pressure of ithefluid, against the lowerV axial end of the annular valve-seat 75. Thus, the opposing lapped faces of such two members contact. In this position also, the spring 'is substantially free of any compressive. load. It is fully intended, in this respect, that the final closing movements of valve member 68 occur freely l-undergthe iniluence of the pressurized fluid within chamber 60 and substantially independently of pressure by the spring means 65.

-It will also be noticed' that `the central depression 69 of the valve disc 68 cooperates fully with the pointed lower end 43 of Ithe stem 42 to permit complete interfacial en- Y gagement between the valve disc and the valve seat.

pears in the following appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a valve assembly for interrupting the ilow of pressuriz'ed uid, a threadingly movable operating stem, annular valve seat means vcoaxial of saidstem and through which onel endof the latter is movable, a valve disc adjacent said seat means, said seat means `and valve disc having opposed annular faces for interfacial seating engagement, pilot means on said valve disc coaxially en-v gaged with the said one end of said operating stem for piloting-said valve disc into'coaxial alignment with said seat means, and spring means operable, when compressed, toresiliently support said valve `disc and maintain the said pilot means in piloting engagement with said'operating stems one end; said spring means being compressedI by movement of said valve disc theretoward, against the pressure of the uid to be controlled by the assembly, and beyond a preselected limit of unseating movement away from said seat means in response to threading operation of said stem, and saidvalve disc being movable from said preselected limit toward and against said seat means solely by the iniluence of the pressure of the iiuid being controlled and unthreading operation of said stem, `said seat means and valve disc being formed of hard vitreous materials, and stop means limiting movement of said operating stem toward said valve disc to prevent overloading of the latter. v

2. A valve comprising a hollow body member having fluid inlet and outlet means for the passage of pressurized uid therethrough, a substantially cylindrical casing mounted in said body and having sealing engagement therewith, said casing having fluid inlet Ymeans at one end and outlet means adjacent its other end, an operating valve body encased by said housing, an operating stem threadingly supported in said operating body and vmovable coaxially therethrough, said operating stem being movable through a central passageway of said operating body, an annular seat member Aat one end of said passageway, a valve disc adjacent said seat member and responsively movable with said steun-compression spring means located between said disc and the inlet means of said casing, said valve disc having a free oating connection with said valve stem and said spring means and being freely movable independently of said spring means between one end of the latter and said seat member by and with the pressure of said fluid and unthreading movement of said stern, and pilot means for maintaining said valve disc coaXially of said stem and spring and `operable under the influence of the latter when said disc is moved beyond va preselected limit away from said seat member to compressively load said spring, said valve disc being moved away from said seat member with the threading movement of said stem, said valve disc and seat member being of a vitreous material, and means for limiting the threading movement of said operating stem toward said valve disc in order to prevent the positive overloading of the latter by threading operation of said stem.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Jan. 21, 1957 

